Mechanical starter for large internal-combustion engines



March 1, -1 949. L. T. HOOVER MECHANICAL STARTER FOR LARGE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GJ INVI'DV TOR. L.T. HOOVER A'i'TORNEYS March 1, 1949. T. HOOVER 2,

MECHANICAL STARTER FOR LARGE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

IN VEN TOR. L.T. HOOVER ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1949 MECHANICAL STARTER FOR LARGE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Lucian "r.

Phillips Petroleum Delaware Hoover, Seminole, 0kla., assignor to ompany, a corporation of Application March 24, 1947, Serial No. 736,876

This invention relates to a mechanical means for safely starting large internal combustion engines. In one specific aspect it relates to a mechanical starter having a small motor with an adjustable V-belt and friction pulley drive by which the motor may be coupled to the large internal combustion engine during the period of starting and uncoupled therefrom after the large engine has started.

One object of the invention is to provide a mechanical means of starting large internal combustion engines on an economical and safe basis.

Another object is to provide a motor and coupling means for coupling the same to a large internal combustion engine for starting the same.

Another object is to provide a simple, rugged, inexpensive and fool proof starting means for large internal combustion engines.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent upon reading the accompanying specification, claims and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a starting device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 2'.

In Figure l a large internal combustion engine (not shown) is provided with a starting wheel 4 which may also act as a flywheel. Only a portion of wheel 4 is shown as it is quite common to have such wheels on internal combustion engines. Wheel 4 is turned in order to start the engine (not shown).

A suitably small motor 6 is provided to supply power to start the internal combustion engine by turning wheel 4. Motor 6 may be a small gasoline motor, which is often preferable especially where electric power is unavailable, or motor 6 may be an electric motor as shown which operates by power supplied through wires 1 and 8 connected to any suitable power source.

Motor 6 preferably mounted on a base 9 which in turn is mounted on frame H which may be positioned carefully relative to wheel 4.

Mounted on frame H are two supporting eyes l2 and I3 which may be directly mounted on H or if desired mounted on a bed plate M which is secured to frame Rotatively mounted in eyes i2 and I3 are annular sleeves l6 provided with eccentric holes I! therethrough. Sleeves l6 surround shaft l8 and are preferably guided thereon and spaced 2 Claims.

by one or more V-belts 2 1.

therefrom by bearings I9 which are preferably of the anti-friction type. i i i i In order to maintain eccentric sleeves ii in assembled relationship, end plate 2| is provided secured to H5 by any suitable means such as bolts 22. A similar end plate 23 is provided which has the added function of controlling the position of sleeve l6 by means 'of connecting arm 24- which extends from the end plate 23 inside of eye l2 to the corresponding inside end plate inside of eye l3.

Mounted on shaft [8 is a V-belt pulley 26 driven Wheel 26 may be secured to shaft |8 by any suitable means, such as welding at 28. Also secured to shaft i8 is plate 29 which is provided with a series of holes for the accommodation of bolts 32 having nuts 3| secured thereto. Threaded on bolts 3| are discs of friction pulley material, such as leather discs 33. Disc 29 being secured by suitable means, such as welding 34 to shaft I8, it is obvious that by tightening nuts and bolts 32 and 3| that discs 34 may be drawn into a suitable friction drive wheel. Plate 36 acts as a follower.

In order to rotate eccentric sleeve IS a linkage is provided comprising a pivot 31 on a support 38 secured to frame I I. Pivoting on pivot 31 is a bell crank having an operating handle 39 and an operating arm 4| rigidly secured thereto. Rigidly connected to eccentric sleeve I5 is cross arm 24 and ears 42 mounted on arm 24. Ears 42 and arm 4| are connected by link 43 and pivots 44 and 46. In addition to or alternative to welding pulley 26 to shaft I8 is a key 41 which may be employed.

Motor 6 is provided with the usual drive shaft 48 to which a drive pulley 49 may be secured by any suitable means such as key BI and pulleys 49 and 26 are connected together by one or more V-belts 21.

If desired, support |2 may be longitudinally movable on frame H by providing slots in either orl2, bolting |2 into the desired position by nuts and bolts 52 and 53. When such is done support l2 may be moved into position by means of bolt 54 threaded in support 38 or secured thereto by nuts 56 and 51.

Operation When it is desired to start the large internal combustion engine to which wheel 4 is attached as a starting wheel, the operator starts motor 6 if the same is an internal combustion engine and then proceeds as follows, or if motor 6 is an electric motor the starting of the motor is delayed preferably until after however the electric motor may be started first The operator moves'lever 39 to the left which pushes down on link 43 and ears 42 rotating eccentric sleeves I6 until friction drive wheel 38 firmly engages wheel 4. The length .of V-belts 21 is such that when friction wheel 33 engages wheel 4 the friction belt is stretched to the optimum degree for driving a heavy load, Engine 8 then rotates wheel 4 starting the internal com- 'bustion engine (not shown).

started,'lever 89 is moved back into the position After the engine is shown'in Figurev 1, which disengages wheel 38 from wheel 4and motor 8 may then be stopped.

It will be seen that I have produced a starter which is economical, simple and fool-proof and e which will carry out the objectsof the invention and comply with thelaws of the State of Oklahoma which require a starter for all engineslof ten' horse power or more. Starting a large internal combustion engine is quite, hazardous .unless a suitable starter is employed as disclosed inthe present invention. g I

While I'have' shown in the drawings, several particular illustrativeforms of my invention,

various modifications may be made inthe same wheel 4 has been engaged,

terconnecting said arm and said lever, and a friction wheel mounted on said shaft and engageable with said motor starting wheel when said shaft is in its second position whereby, upon operation of said bell crank lever, said belt is tightened andthe starting motor i operatively and in thevarious features of construction,,without materially changing the. invention therein, and formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

' Having described my invention, I.claim:

1. Starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a starting wheel which comprises, in combination, a fr ame adapted to ,be secured in a predetermined location with respect to said'starting wheel, astarting motor having its base firmly'secured to said frame, a pair of spaced eyes mounted on said frame, a cylindrical member rotatably' mounted in each of said -eyes, each member having an opening formed therein which is eccentrically diaposed with respect to the axis thereof, said openconnected to the starting wheel.

2. Starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a st'artingwheel which comprises, in combination, a frame adapted to be secured in a predetermined location with respect to said startingwheel, a starting motor having its base'firmly, secured to said frame, a'

pair of spaced eyesmounted on said frame, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted in each of said eyes, each member having an opening formed therein which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis thereof, said openings being adapted to be in horizontal alignment, a pair of end plates secured to each cylindrical member, said plates having passages extending therethrough which are alignedwith the eccentrically disposed openings in said cylindrical members, the peripheralportions of each set of plates being engageable with the associated structure of said eyes, a bearing disposed in each of said openings, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a pulley fixed to said "shaft, a second pulley driven by said starting otor, a belt interconnecting said pulleys, said elt being loose on said pulleys when said -shaft and said cylindrical members are inone position, and said belt being ings being adapted to be in horizontal alignmeht, a pair of end plates secured to each cylindrical member, said plates having passages ex- "cal members are in one position, and said belt being in driving engagement with'said pulleys whensaidshaft and said. cylindrical members are in a second position, means for moving said cylindrical members to said second position in eluding an'arm secured to both of said cylindrical members, a bell crank lever, and-a link infile of this patent:

in driving engagement with said pulleys when said shaft and said cylindrical members are in a second position, means for'moving said cylindrical members to said second position including an arm secured to both of said cylindrical members, a bell crank lever, and a link interconnecting said arm and said lever, anda friction wheel mounted on said shaft and engageable with said motor starting wheel when said shaft is in its second position whereby, upon operation of said bell crank lever, said belt is tightened and the starting motor is operatively connected to the starting wheel, said friction wheel comprising a clamping plate secured to said shaft, 2. second clamping .plate movably mounted on said shaft, a plurality of annular leather discs mounted on said shaft between said clamping plates, and means for clamping said plates to compress said leather discs into a unitary structure.

' LUCIAN T. HOOVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the UNITED STATES RATENTS .Number Name Date 392,818 Merrow Nov. 13, 1888 1,231,363 Hunt June 26, 1917 1,304,252 Bijur May 20, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Australia Mar. 14, 1944 

